This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
(Oh no)
Oh lately it's so quiet, in this place
You're not round every corner
Ohhh
(oh no)
Oh lately its so quiet in this place
Oh darling if you're not here haunting me
Im wondering
Whose house are you haunting tonight?
Oh whose sheets you twist?
Or whose face you kiss?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
(oh no)
I don't think much about you anymore.
(oh no)
Youre not on every whisper
Ohhh
(oh no)
I don't think much about you,
But if you're not lurking behind every curtain,
I'm wondering
Whose house are you haunting tonight?
Oh whose name you hiss?
Or whose clutching fists?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
Now whose house are you haunting tonight?
Who can't resist,
Who's crying â??whose house are you haunting tonight?â??
Whose name you hiss
Or whose sheets you twist?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
(oh no)
Oh lately it's so quiet, in this place
You're not round every corner
Ohhh
(oh no)
Oh lately its so quiet in this place
Oh darling if you're not here haunting me
Im wondering
Whose house are you haunting tonight?
Oh whose sheets you twist?
Or whose face you kiss?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
(oh no)
I don't think much about you anymore.
(oh no)
Youre not on every whisper
Ohhh
(oh no)
I don't think much about you,
But if you're not lurking behind every curtain,
I'm wondering
Whose house are you haunting tonight?
Oh whose name you hiss?
Or whose clutching fists?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
Now whose house are you haunting tonight?
Who can't resist,
Who's crying â??whose house are you haunting tonight?â??
Whose name you hiss
Or whose sheets you twist?
Oh whose house are you haunting tonight?
(oh no)
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
My favourite Ok Go song (maybe a tie with Return though...).
Yes, I definitely agree with Jaw... this feels like he's pretending he doesn't think about her, when really, he can't stop. He uses negative words to describe her presence "lurking" "haunting". Thus, he's trying to suggest that she is unpleasant to be around.
Yet, the way he seems to think about where she is (and tellingly, who she might be kissing) suggests that her absence bothers him more then he wants to admit.
I think it's a bad/angry break-up, kind of thing...but he can't get over her, now matter how much he doesn't like her.
oh, man. this one just breaks my heart.
I think this song is about a relationship that has ended. The singer is looking around his house where the two lived and is wondering what the girl is doing now. It also seems like hes talking to the girl in the third verse ....
(oh no) I don't think much about you anymore. (oh no) You're not on every whisper. (oh no) I don't think much about you, But if you're not lurking behind every curtain
He seems like hes denying that shes still on his mind and acting like she doesnt mean anything anymore, even tho he knows she does
Beautiful song : )
I think it's about a girl who he ignored and she was always there for him, always right behind him but he never bothered with her, now that she has moved on he realizes she's gone and kinda misses her? Thats what I can relate it to anyways...
" Oh, lately it's so quiet, in this place. You're not 'round every corner. (oh no) Oh, lately it's so quiet in this place." someone was always there "So darling, if you're not here haunting me,
I'm wondering whose house are you haunting tonight? Whose sheets you twist, Whose face you kiss? Whose house are you haunting tonight?" ... know hes wonderin about whats shes doin with out him
"(oh no) I don't think much about you anymore. (oh no) You're not on every whisper. (oh no) I don't think much about you," hes denying it....
"But if you're not lurking behind every curtain,
I'm wondering whose house are you haunting tonight? Whose name you hiss, whose clinching fists? Whose house are you haunting tonight?" but he some what admits he still thinks about her
"Now whose house are you haunting tonight? Who can't resist, who's crying "Whose house are you haunting tonight?" Whose name you hiss, whose sheets you twist? Whose house are you haunting tonight? " hes hiding it
this song sounds the most like theyre 1st cd.. somewhat it caught my ear.
This song is one of Ok Go's best. I love it, it is so freaking adorable.
And yea, I think you guys nailed the meaning. The lyrics kinda give it away.
I love when i find a song that speaks to me, like this one.
Definitely a beautiful song, and a bit different from what i'm use to hearing from Ok Go.
I think this song is actually about a couple still together but the girl is cheating, and the guy is saying, if you aren't here then whose house are you at and which guy are you sleeping with.
So darling, if you're not here haunting me, I'm wondering whose house are you haunting tonight? Whose sheets you twist, Whose face you kiss? Whose house are you haunting tonight?
I don't think much about you anymore. I think what is saying here is not so much that he is not actually thinking about her, but that he thinks less of her, or thinks that she is nothing, because she cheats.
Well I agree with amante3456. Either she's cheating or she is a player. He asks whose house she is haunting TONIGHT. So it means she swtiches partners frequently. And she is haunting because she breaks up with the boys really quick, so it's heart breaking. And she is definately having sex with all of them.
"Whose sheets you twist, Whose face you kiss?"
"Whose name you hiss, Whose clinching fists?"